49-year-old Gets Education From The Kids

Alan Oakes is 49 and a successful advertising-marketing executive. When he came to work Thursday with his lip split and swollen, it aroused attention around the office.

No, he had not been in a fight, his wife had not clobbered him, and he had not been mugged.

He had been learning how to play defense.

Each day this week, Oakes finishes work a little early, closes the door to his office, changes into shorts, T-shirt and sneakers and drives straight to the Stan Pietkiewicz-Bo Clark basketball camp at Winter Park High School.

He is not an instructor. He is a student, an extremely serious, exceptionally eager student, sharpening his basketball skills alongside 40 high school-aged youngsters.

Although his skill level appears average for this camp, his jump shot a little streaky, his foot speed maybe a step slow, he can't quite blend in because of his age. Clark and Pietkiewicz, who operate the camp, are 29.

''When he first called and inquired about it, I thought he was trying to register his son,'' said Clark, a three-time All-American at the University of Central Florida and current coach at Winter Park High. ''Then I thought maybe he was joking. I kind of laughed. But he was dead serious. He's been a great student. I wish all the kids had his attitude and his willingness to learn.'' Oakes, who moved to Orlando 18 months ago, paid $55 for the instruction, which lasts from 6-9 p.m. each day for a week. Under Grade Entering on his registration form, he wrote ''35 percent uphill.'' Under School To Be Attended, he wrote ''life ongoing.''

Wednesday he was closely guarding his opponent, a 16-year-old, during a routine, 3-on-3 scrimmage drill, when he caught an elbow in the face that split open his lip. He hardly flinched, even when the blood was coming down his chin. He resumed play quickly.

There is some horseplay among the kids between drills and during breaks in the scrimmage, but Oakes takes all three hours seriously. He urges on teammates in scrimmages, hustles from court to court when the whistle blows and can't seem to get enough basketball. He is in great physical condition.

''This is like an ideal vacation for me, something I've always wanted to do,'' said Oakes, who played high school basketball in New Jersey. ''When I played as a kid, there was nothing but two-hand set shots and one-hand push shots. I wanted to learn all the right technique, so maybe I could teach my own son.''

Oakes has been active all his life, participating in virtually every sport imaginable. His zest for sports has carried over into the rest of his life.

Before moving to Orlando, he worked for travel agencies in Jamaica and Miami, getting the opportunity to paddle up the Amazon River, tour Brazil and explore the jungles of Peru.

Today is the final day of camp and it finishes with a brief awards ceremony for the players. Oakes' wife and 7-year-old son are expected to come.

''My wife's been great about this because she understands me. When I get home every night, dinner is waiting in the microwave,'' he said. ''I had thought about coming back for another week, but I'm not sure she understands me that well. Another week and I might be eating out in the garage.''